The ICC Institute of World Business Law is set to address issues of corruption in commercial and investment arbitration during its 34th Annual Meeting in Paris on 24 November 2014.

The conference aims to weigh up theoretical and practical considerations of corruption, consider different perspectives of all involved parties and examine differences between commercial and investment treaty arbitration. The conference will feature some of the world’s leading legal and business experts who will examine the consequences and effects of allegations or positive findings of corruption.

“While issues of corruption are not a recent phenomenon in international arbitration, the frequency with which they occur and the complexity of their consequences have increased significantly in the last few years,” said the Co-Chair of the Conference , Richard Kreindler, Partner, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Germany and Council Member of the ICC Institute of World Business Law.

“The crucial issue in arbitration proceedings where a case of corruption is alleged is not whether it must be punished, but rather whether corruption is demonstrated,” he added.

The one-day conference will be a unique opportunity to discuss an array of topics related to corruption that are defined and given a scope of analysis according to relevant laws and current trends in both commercial and investment arbitration.

Domitille Baizeau, Co-Chair of the event, Partner, LALIVE, Switzerland and Member of the ICC Institute of World Business Law said: “The goal of the conference is to address the issue of corruption from the parties’ and the arbitrators’ perspective in a comprehensive manner, from the impact of corruption on gateway issues of arbitrability, jurisdiction, admissibility to the consequences and effects of allegations or of a positive finding of corruption on the dispute on the merits and the enforceability of the award. The conference will also address the challenging issues of burden, standard of proof, and the arbitrators’ investigative and reporting rights and duties”.

Every year, the proceedings of the conference are compiled in a Dossier which is part of the Institute’s series on international commercial law and arbitration. The 11th volume is about to be released under the theme “The Application of Substantive Law by International Arbitrators”, and offers a comprehensive analysis of the role of the arbitrators and the expectations of the parties in case of contradiction between the applicable law and the needs of international business. It can be ordered online from the ICC Store early October.

Conference discussions will be held in English and French with simultaneous translation.

Do not miss the early bird special rate, available until 26th September.